Can be diagnosed from its congeners in Western Balkans and Adriatic basin by the following characters: 44-49 scales on lateral line; scale pocket of each flank scale above lateral line with a conspicuous dark triangular spot, pigments usually absent along free margin; eye diameter 24-28% HL, slightly less than snout length; 5th infraorbital bone small or absent; dorsal fin usually with 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 9½ branched rays; head shallow, conical; snout elongate, dorsal profile slightly rounded; lower jaw short, length less than depth of operculum; and mouth subterminal (Ref. 59043).